The Infinite Dial

You haven't heard much lately about Simon T., the maverick GM who briefly tried to make Scott Shannon's KQLZ (Pirate Radio) Los Angeles viable in the late '80s by selling only one spot an hour, at a premium. But in recent months, Mr. T. has launched one station and has just won the FCC auction for another, in partnership with consultants Jeff Pollack and Tommy Hadges, among others, according to the Aspen [Colo.] Daily News.

Meanwhile, the station that is on the air is worth checking out. It's KCUF (Radio Free Aspen), which is currently running an unusual Adult Top 40 hybrid. The station is currently running jockless and commercial free and Simon T. tells the paper that there is likely to stay that way until, "We find our niche in the market. There's not a sense of urgency to go out and make money with this radio station." And the station's fourth partner, Bob DeMuth tells the paper that when the station does decide to make money, they would like to find a model that allows it to remain commercial free--which brings it full-circle to the Pirate Radio vision.